Anything Propaul at all. Please my crops are dying.
milestone requests – accepting ! // in which they meet in college instead of in high school.
Paul had never been familiar with the aching chest accompanying loneliness. President in his high school, three best friends at his side – he’d had all the company he could need. Moving to a university, then, where no one stops to consider freshman (especially when there are hundreds of them), was a rude awakening.
Jared seemed to attract attention wherever he went; even in a town hour away from the center of his family’s popularity, people take note of him. Part of him loves it, of course, but part of him is beginning to get exhausted by the constant show he has to put on, lest he be mobbed by an enthusiastic girl that he can’t let down.
it is Paul’s lack of plans and Jared’s desire to avoid any plans that leave them both in the university’s library well past midnight.
Paul, to his credit, is trying to study. However, he made the mistake of leaving the one textbook he actually needed in his dorm. When he approaches the librarian and asks for the book, she waves in the general direction of the only other patron of the library.
Of course, the only other student still rotting in the library is using the only copy of the textbook the library has. At first, Paul considers just running back to his dorm and grabbing the book, but then he realizes that the student isn’t even using it. Rather, he’s propping his elbows on the open book, staring at his phone.
That sight alone is enough to make Paul walk over, practically burning with – well, with confusion, but there’s definitely some anger there, too. He’s arguing before the poor kid realizes he’s being approached.
“I need that.” Paul has to admit he respect the other’s blatant disregard for his books. Most of Paul’s studying sessions are distraction filled at best; however, he likes to at least do something worthwhile with the books (like build a tower, or create a chair – anything other than using them as armrests). Admiration doesn’t negate irritation, though.
The other glances up through lowered lips; he looks moments away from falling asleep, and Paul, in his energy-fueled manner, wonders why the other is even still here, since he’s evidently not working.
(He also notes how attractive the other is, but files that away to be ignored until his face fades away into a faceless mass.)
While Paul is debating with himself, the other blinks and looks around. As if awakening from a trance, he launches immediately into what seems like an imitation of some character trope. “Need what?” To punctuate his words, he raises a brow and gestures to himself; if he’d winked, Paul would be completely unsurprised.
The confidence of the statement nearly throws Paul off (not because he’s still thinking about the other’s previously established attractiveness, though. of course not.), and he clears his throat before trying again. “The textbook. I need it.”
Whether it’s exhaustion or genuine boredom of the act, the other concedes, sliding the textbook across the table. He leaves his hand on it, though, using the textbook as leverage of sorts. When Paul looks at him, his eyes are narrowed uncertainly, and he’s tilting his head (he looks like a confused dog, and Paul hates it).
“Do you know who I am?” The question doesn’t come with the arrogance one would expect; rather, it comes off as uncertain.
Paul looks off to the side before tapping on the textbook, unsure how to react to the sudden change in character. “We have this class together, don’t we?”
The other seems caught between two emotions; whatever mental debate has occurred, he leans back, expression returning to the same tired appearance it’d been before. “I’m Jared, and we need to hang out more.”
Paul knows he has no way of understanding Jared’s analysis of the situation, but he has never been one to turn down a chance of friendship. The same part of his mind from earlier points out that possibility of something more, and he crinkles his nose in response.
Seeing this, Jared’s eyes widen, no doubt thinking it was directed towards him. He pulls his hand away from the textbook and collects himself; as quickly as the insecurity had appeared on his face, it is replaced by that same easy smirk.
Paul mentally berates himself as he picks up the book, holding it to his chest. He begins to turn, then hesitates, looking over his shoulder at Jared. “I’m in the library a lot this time of night.”
It’s an invitation of sorts, and Jared seems to sigh with relief. “Interesting. I just decided to start coming here more.”
Paul ends up using the textbook as a wall in a game of paper football, and Jared ends up falling asleep at his table.
jared looks, for once, deadly serious. the look in his eyes is so piercing it may as well be used as a weapon -- paul feels his heart sink before it shows on his face.
as soon as jared sees his sadness, he backtracks, flowery words blooming from his tongue. “no, my dear, not because of you. i -- you are the stars in the sky, and she’d be lucky to meet you. i mean that you can’t meet her.”
it still registers in paul’s mind as shame, jared being dissatisfied in their relationship to show him to his family; it must still flicker in his eyes, because jared leans over to kiss him and for just a second he forgets everything but lips and the soft rose petals of closed eyelids.
Would either of ProPaul ever propose? If so, what would their wedding be like?
best ending: paul proposes to jared in a very fancy formal lovey-dovey way w flowers and getting down on one knee etc etc,,, jared is so happy bc everything was so wonderful and romantic
good ending: jared proposes to paul in that same fancy way and paul is just .. “yea obviously” he probably didn’t even realize half of the fancy stuff was leading up to a proposal
TRUE ending: the two of them are eating grilled cheese sandwiches and jared says sm stupid and paul just goes “hey lets get married”, jared screams
“You can lie to yourself but don’t lie to me.” propaul. ..
40 prompts. / for my resident propaul stan @ianasagao
“it’s nothing, paul. drop it.” jared’s voice has a lesser heard edge to it -- unfortunately for paul, he doesn’t do subtlety. they both come into jared’s dorm as a mass of limbs and concerned eyes, paul fidgeting anxiously with his sleeves.
as jared turns away from him to pretend to organise something on his desk, paul inhales sharply, shaking his head. “it’s not nothing, jared, and i’m not stupid. you’ve been funny ever since you got that call, and i --”
“it’s fine.” something in his tone makes it sound like he wants the conversation to end, but the ends outweigh the means for paul, and so he keeps pushing.
“you can lie to yourself, but don’t lie to me,” he mutters, eyes soft and sad. “it’s your mother, isn’t it?”
something in the air changes immediately. it gets hostile and cold and then heavy, with jared’s shoulders squaring directly in front of paul’s eyes. “you don’t know what you’re talking about, paul. so shut up.”
“why won’t you let me --”
“because i don’t want to!” jared’s hand slams harshly on his desk as he turns to face paul, eyes glossy. it’s with a horrified pang that paul realises he’s on the verge of tears. “i don’t want you to know, i don’t want you to help, i don’t want you to feel bad for me, paul -- poor little rich boy can’t face down his mother, i know! it’s pathetic.” by the time he’s finished yelling, he seems worn out, exhausted -- he’d been holding that in for a long time. his eyes look lost, as if without his anger, he doesn’t know who exactly he is.
paul takes one of his hands slowly, as if approaching a frightened animal. jared lets him. with increasing softness, he begins; “i don’t pity you, and i can’t understand, but i want to listen. i want to be there for you. i don’t have to meet her, but i want to -- jared, let me know you.”
jared’s expression, nervous and tired in the dim light of his lamp, says everything. some day, but not right now. paul can live with that.
“Ouch, I bit my lip… kiss it better?” FGDAJ PROPAUL
fluffy sentence starters
Jared’s suave demeanor, carefully crafted to leave all passerby completely smitten, has no visible effect on Paul. In Jared’s eyes, this is a failure; to not be able to entrance the person he’s actually dating is evident of some kind of fault, surely, so he compensates by trying harder.
Like so many other things, Paul is unaware of how his behavior upsets Jared – if anything, he’d think his reactions to each mannerism is perfectly well-founded. If he were to find out, he would definitely put in an effort to seem awed, but it wouldn’t really count, not to Jared; anybody can pretend to be smitten.
So Jared persists, with bouquets of flowers, with lingering touches and soft stares, and every time Paul reacts with genuine gratitude and a kind smile, but never with wide eyes or stuttering statements. This lack of a greater reaction accumulates in every situation imaginable – ferris wheels, romantic outings, declarations of love, and every time, Paul is flattered; of course he’s flattered.
The two are in the library now, together but separate – Jared is working to craft origami flowers (another one of his romantic demonstrations for Paul, not that Paul has realized that), and Paul is messing around on his phone (technically, he’s studying, but the textbook in front of him has only been opened, and his pencil isn’t even sharpened). It’s been silent since they settled in; Paul’s arm is thrown across the back of Jared’s chair, and every so often, Jared shifts his weight and lightly nudges Paul’s arm. It seems to Jared that Paul considers this to be the height of intimacy.
Jared leans over to focus on a particularly intricate portion, his bottom lip catching between his teeth as he works. At the same moment, Paul hits a good combination on the game he’s playing (some knockoff app that’s shockingly difficult to play) and sits up, jerking his arm off Jared’s chair and effectively pushing Jared towards the table. Jared pushes back to avoid hitting his face against the table, but it isn’t enough to keep him from biting down on his lip.
Paul laughs through an apology while Jared prods at his lip experimentally – he’s not bleeding, but it’s going to be swollen, and he pouts as he thinks about the connotations of that. Paul notices the silence and leans over, still grinning. “You alright?”
Jared rolls his eyes even as he responds, fully aware of how stupid his comment is going to be but saying it nonetheless. “I bit my lip.” He winces, but leans closer – a better atmosphere might make things smoother. “Kiss it better?”
He fully expects Paul to burst out laughing, but instead, he freezes – his mouth falls slightly open, and Jared could swear he could feel Paul’s cheeks heat up even at the distance away that he is. Jared’s eyes practically light up – this is what he’d wanted, and he hadn’t even done something as incredible as he’d wanted to.
He’s still rolling in the excitement of succeeding when Paul closes the distance between them; they kiss long enough for a passing student worker to clear his throat. Even then, Jared only pulls back enough to mumble about getting coded for public displays of affection. Paul is still starstruck, his eyes fluttered half shut.
“That was … kind of adorable.” He finally says, the words spilling out in a rush. Jared chuckles, then leans back in his seat; anything to keep people guessing.
things you said ; // 56) things you said in the spur of the moment
1. It seems that between them, tensions are always high; even when not intentionally avoiding each other, they’re arguing about one thing or tastefully avoiding the topic of another thing. Today, the former seems to be the rule.
“I don’t think you understand how busy I am.” Paul places his hand in front of him in an effort to keep Jared from arguing. “I have a lot on my plate, Jared. The campaign is important.”
Jared groans, his jaw clenching. “And so is my show. Come on –” He notices that Paul is still holding out his hand and yanks it down. Instead of letting go, he uses the contact to pull himself closer to Paul so he can hiss his response. It’s meant to be intimidating, but Paul blinks only once before catching himself. “Everyone’s going. A few hours won’t ruin your campaign.”
“You don’t know that.” Paul steps back almost delicately, shaking his wrist free of Jared’s grip. “Maybe a group of students will need me, and I’ll be busy, and bam! Their votes are gone.” He punctuates his story with jazz hands, and Jared holds back another groan.
“Maybe my adoring fans will see you’re too busy to be at my show, and bam!” He does his best impersonation of Paul’s voice – it’s choked, but there’s no denying what it’s meant to be. This statement is the first to actually make Paul falter; he looks off to the side and chews on his lip, now debating with himself more so than with Jared.
It only takes Jared a moment to realize the near cruelty of this -- it isn’t enough that Jared asked Paul to be there, no, it took the threat of losing his campaign to make him react. It’s ridiculous.
Paul finally sighs, unaware of Jared’s mood shift. “I doubt anyone will notice. They’ll be focused on you.” It’s as good as a conclusion; he doesn’t need to outright say that he won’t be going to make it obvious.
Jared narrows his eyes, then shakes his head -- he’s not going to get upset over this, not when everyone else is so happy to see him. Regardless, this feels like rejection (because it is, in a way), and he hates the way one person not fawning over him leaves him gasping for breath. “Whatever.” He mumbles the word through still clenched teeth before turning on his heel, prepared to stomp off in a huff.
Before he gets far, Paul grabs his shoulder (and it’s awful, maybe, that Jared is almost relieved by this). “Why are you so upset about this? It’s just business.”
Jared turns back fast enough to pull his shoulder away from Paul entirely; he throws his hands up then nearly yells his answer. “I want you to see it!” For the second time in the past few arguments, Paul actually reacts -- in shock, first, then his brows furrow in what Jared recognizes as sympathy, and this misplaced pity was the last thing he needed. For a second, they’re both silent, Paul staring at Jared and Jared searching for an excuse. He breaks the silence first, tone smooth and stiff and emotionless. “It’d be nice if my friends were there to see my show, but I understand that you’re busy.”
With that, he leaves, too fast to be calm but too elegant to be frantic. Paul takes a moment to catch his breath, then turns in the opposite direction, arms folded in front of him.
BEST SHIP so paul is like “let’s just order separate slices” and jared is like “where’s the romance” but neither of them like the same toppings so they gotta get a half and half pizza ?? then a mushroom or sm gets on jared’s half of the pizza and he acts like he’s gonna die. they’re both rly Against getting grease all over their faces so they use napkins and such and are excruciatingly clean BUT ALSO they’re disgusting and they probably talk w their mouths full so it’s like .. what is the truth actually jared probs just pretends to hate the idea entirely bc it isn’t Romantic Enough and paul is just .. jared please .... jared i’m tired please jared
I didnt really get an excuse but listen: you know that cute play wrestling that turns into cuddling trope ??? That doesn't happen with propaul. It doesn't happen with polytinue, for that matter, because Paul is here to win
